"Ouch!" Xie Lang gasped in pain as he was suddenly yanked. He instinctively glared at Shen Mingzhu and gritted his teeth, "Are you trying to murder your husband?"
Shen Mingzhu rarely felt guilty. She quickly withdrew her hand and, seeing the two strands of hair in her hand, looked at Xie Lang with even more guilt and murmured, "I'm sorry."
Xie Lang sighed and looked at Shen Mingzhu, saying, "Sorry for what? It's just two strands of hair."
"By the way," he continued, looking at Shen Mingzhu with an indescribable look in his eyes. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why did you suddenly tug at my hair?"
Shen Mingzhu instinctively looked at the hair in her hand, avoiding Xie Lang's question. A bit of guilt welled up in her heart. Looking at the long strand of hair, she suddenly felt at a loss. She didn't know whether to throw it away or where to put it. So she said to Xie Lang, "I was just distracted, suddenly remembering something, and that's what happened."
Xie Lang didn't know that Shen Mingzhu had heard his inner thoughts. He just thought she was worrying about the contraceptive decoction. So he heaved a deep sigh and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Shen Mingzhu was really prone to feeling guilty. She was so remorseful just for accidentally pulling out his hair. If she knew that he was aware of her taking the contraceptive decoction, she would probably be too guilt - stricken to speak.
Shen Mingzhu seemed to be lost in thought, staring at the hair in her hand.
Both she and Xie Lang were no longer young. Especially Xie Lang. He originally had no intention of getting married. Lady Liu was also worried that if he married a wife from a prominent family, she would be overshadowed. So she was reluctant to let Xie Lang get married, and thus his marriage was delayed.
Shen Mingzhu was also delayed for a while after the Crown Prince's incident. Later, she unexpectedly married Xie Lang. Chen Yun, who was the same age as her, was already pregnant.
Did Xie Lang want a child?
Shen Mingzhu pursed her lips and thought deeply. A touch of solemnity appeared in her eyes.
Xie Lang was also lost in thought, wondering if there was a contraceptive for men. Shen Mingzhu often had cold hands and feet, which was a sign of a weak constitution.
The contraceptive decoction was cold in nature. And he had been lacking in family affection since childhood. If he hadn't thought of the contraceptive decoction today, he would never have thought that he and Shen Mingzhu might have a child in the future.
Both of them were lost in thought, their hearts full of each other, and they were both trapped in a dilemma.
After a moment of silence, Xie Lang stood up and planned to go out to find a doctor to ask. So he said to Shen Mingzhu, "Wait. I just remembered there's something I haven't settled yet. Wait for me to come back for dinner."
Shen Mingzhu's mind was in a complete mess at the moment. Hearing this, she just nodded and said, "Okay. Come back soon."
After seeing Xie Lang open the door and leave, Shen Mingzhu slumped onto the small table like a deflated balloon. She propped her face with her hand and didn't know what to say for a moment. A touch of dejection appeared on her face.
What exactly was Xie Lang thinking? If he wanted a child now, what should she do?
Shen Mingzhu knew that she was now involved in a whole lot of things. If there were any more dangerous situations in the future, the child might be implicated.
But this was just her own thought. What about Xie Lang? What if his thoughts were different from hers?
Shen Mingzhu stretched out her hand and looked at the strand of hair in her palm. For the first time, she felt confused about this matter.
Chuntao knocked on the door and entered. Seeing Shen Mingzhu's dejected look, she said gently, "Your Highness, what are you worrying about?"
Shen Mingzhu looked at her, hesitation appearing in her eyes. She looked at Chuntao and asked, "I never thought about this before. But do you think Xie Lang wants a child now?"
Chuntao didn't expect Shen Mingzhu to be thinking about this. So she showed a bit of confusion and continued, "But Your Highness can make your own decision on this matter. You are the Princess Royal, and Lord Xie is just your consort."
"Your status is so noble. How could he not listen to you?"
Shen Mingzhu was stunned.
She realized that she never thought about this before because she regarded Xie Lang as her consort, actually someone of a lower position.
But now...
She realized that Xie Lang's position in her heart seemed much more important than she had imagined. That was why she would consider Xie Lang's thoughts instead of taking everything for granted and asking Xie Lang to accommodate her, as Chuntao had thought.
Realizing this, Shen Mingzhu felt even more heavy - hearted. She looked at Chuntao and said, "We are not only sovereign and subject but also husband and wife."
Chuntao was shocked by the meaning in Shen Mingzhu's words. She instinctively stood still, not knowing how to answer for a moment. Her eyes were full of shock.
So in Her Highness's heart, Lord Xie's position was so important now?
Ouch!
Chuntao took a deep breath in her heart and looked at Shen Mingzhu, saying, "Then... why doesn't Your Highness just talk to Lord Xie directly?"
Shen Mingzhu was lost in confusion. She said to Chuntao, "But what if he wants a child?"
Shen Mingzhu couldn't have a child just because Xie Lang wanted one.
"But Your Highness hasn't even asked yet. How do you know what Lord Xie thinks?"
Realizing her timidity, Shen Mingzhu was startled. She looked at the person in front of her and said, "I understand."
No matter how much she evaded, this was not a reason to hide it from Xie Lang.
It was just a matter worthy of deep thought about how to say it and when to say it.
...
In the palace.
"Your Majesty, someone from the Empress Dowager's place said that she wants to see you."
Shen Mingyuan was in the study. Hearing this, he immediately frowned and put down the letter in his hand. Then he left in a hurry and casually asked the eunuch beside him, "Is the Empress Dowager awake now?"
The eunuch slightly lowered his eyes and said to Shen Mingyuan, "Your Majesty, the chief maid beside the Empress Dowager said that she won't let us in."
Hearing this, Shen Mingyuan's expression dimmed a bit.
The Empress Dowager was on guard against him.
"Your Majesty might as well take a sedan chair there. You've been busy all day. There's no need to be in such a hurry."
After the chief eunuch finished speaking, he heard Shen Mingyuan directly refuse, "No need."
There was an undeniable anxiety in his expression. As he got closer to that place, the wrinkles on his brow couldn't be suppressed at all.
When he arrived at the door, Shen Mingyuan saw Chaoyan, the maid beside the Empress Dowager, standing at the door looking at him. When she saw him, a solemn look appeared on her face. She bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty."
"Mother... How is the Empress Dowager now?"
Shen Mingyuan asked, his voice involuntarily tinged with indescribable worry.
Chaoyan sighed and said to the person in front of her, "The Empress Dowager just woke up and said she wanted to see you."
Shen Mingyuan's heart sank instinctively. He looked at Chaoyan and asked, "May I ask, Aunt Chaoyan, what does the Empress Dowager want to ask me?"
Chaoyan didn't know where this strange caution of Shen Mingyuan came from when he was facing the Empress Dowager. She just frowned and bowed respectfully, saying, "The Empress Dowager didn't say."
"Your Majesty, please go in. The Empress Dowager is waiting for you."
Shen Mingyuan looked up and stared at the palace in front of him.